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Stylish New Airspace Lounge at JFK's Terminal 5

Passengers looking to escape the waiting-area crush at New York's JFK airport now have an affordable lounge where they can relax in style. Located in Terminal 5, the new Airspace Lounge is available for passengers departing on Aer Lingus, JetBlue, and Hawaiian Airlines, the three airlines flying out of that terminal. This is the first lounge in T5 and it is open on a pay-per-use basis; passengers flying Aer Lingus in business class or American Express Platinum Charge Card holders have complimentary access. Access can also be purchased at the door for $25-35, including a $10 credit towards food or drinks.

Terminal 5 is the newest full terminal built at JFK and the passenger amenities are already quite reasonable. As Airspace President Anthony Tangorra observed during a pre-launch tour of the space, "What’s interesting about this [terminal] is that it is awesome, so we had to set the bar even higher here." With a quiet, well-appointed space and impressive food and beverage selection, it appears that Tangorra and his team have surpassed that goal.

The menu inside the Airspace Lounge is both reasonably priced and broad in offerings. Options cover the full day’s needs—the lounge is open from 4:30 am to 11:00 pm—with lighter fare such as smoothies or canapés on offer, as well as more substantial bites like soups and sandwiches. And it's not just the range of food available—Tangorra is proud of the quality as well, "[Y]ou're getting fed better, higher quality food...for the items on the menu there is no better quality food in this terminal." The beverage menu is similarly impressive, with a price point that matches or beats the offerings in the main terminal. And, of course, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and some snacks are available as well.

The lounge offers a small conference room, available for a quick meeting or to get away from the background din of airport noise for a conference call. Every seat has access to power outlets, and there is complimentary WiFi in the space as well. Unlike the crowded gate areas Tangorra sees the lounge as a haven for a working layover, "[Y]ou can actually spread out on a full table, plug in, space to work, space to relax, get work done."

The overall impression the lounge gives is one of a proper, premium space in which to relax before or after a flight. It is certainly not the most luxe facility at JFK—making it a good option for young professionals who seek a sense of chic without the splurge—but it is a sizable step above the terminal offerings and a welcome addition to T5.